Editing-function-integrated reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An editing-function-integrated reproducing apparatus has a function of reproducing and searching a main information signal and a management information signal related to the main information signal recorded on a recording medium and outputting the main information signal to another apparatus and registering an editing program including information of recording positions of the main information according to the management information signal searched from the recording medium at a predetermined searching speed. Further, the reproducing apparatus is arranged to control a reproduction operation during reproduction to search and reproduce the main information signal and the management information signal from the recording medium and control an outputting operation during reproduction to output the main information signal reproduced from the recording medium according to at least one registered editing program.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an editing-function-integratedreproducing apparatus having an editing function of editing a signalrecorded on a recording medium by using another apparatus which isremotely controllable, and a method for use in such a reproducingapparatus.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Heretofore, a dubbing editing system has been known for dubbing avideo signal recorded on a recording medium such as a video tape intoanother apparatus such as a video tape redorder while editing the videosignal.

[0005] In such a dubbing editing system, a dubbing editing operation isperformed as follows. For example, when a video signal recorded on arecording medium is to be edited, a part of the video signal recordedfrom one desired position to another desired position on the recordingmedium is decided to be one cut scene. Then, a plurality of cut scenesare beforehand registered as an editing program. According to theediting program registered beforehand, video signals for the pluralityof cut scenes are searched and reproduced one after another, and aresupplied to another apparatus such as a video tape recorder.

[0006] Further, in recent years, a system having such a structure as tocontrol the operation of a receiving-side video tape recorder in thefollowing manner has been developed. A sending-side video tape recordercontains therein a transmitting part of an infrared remote-controldevice. Among a plurality of kinds of control command codes stored inthe infrared remote-control device, control command codes forcontrolling the operation corresponding to the manufacturer or type ofthe receiving-side video tape recorder are selected. According to thecontrol command codes as selected, a cotrol command is sent from thetransmitting part of the infrared remote-control device to thereceiving-side video tape recorder during the above-mentioned dubbingediting operation so as to control the operation of the receiving-sidevideo tape recorder.

[0007] Meanwhile, there has been recently developed arecording-and-reproducing apparatus having such a function that, inorder to allow only some specific users to see or hear specific imagesor sounds recorded on a recording medium, reproduction-restrictinginformation is recorded in addition to a video or audio signalcorresponding to the specific images or sounds in recording the video oraudio signal on a recording medium, and, then, at the time ofreproduction, the reproducing action is controlled according to thepresence or absence of the reproduction-restricting information so as tocause the video or audio signal having the reproduction-restrictinginformation added thereto not to be outputted.

[0008] However, when the above-mentioned dubbing editing operation is tobe performed on a recording medium on which a video or audio signal hasbeen recorded by the above recording-and-reproducing apparatus, thefollowing problem arises. In registering the editing program, any areaof the recording medium where the reproduction-restricting informationhas been added to the video or audio signal would be able to beregistered as a cut scene selected for editing. Therefore, if, withinthe editing program as registered, there is any cut scene including anarea of the recording medium area where the reproduction-restrictinginformation has been added to the video or audio signal, the video andaudio signal having the reproduction-restricting information addedthereto would not be outputted from a sending-side reproducingapparatus. As a result, another recording medium which is used for thedubbing editing operation for dubbing a video or audio signal into areceiving-side recording apparatus comes eventually to have a period inwhich no video or audio signal is recorded.

[0009] Further, in order to prevent such a period of having no record ofvideo or audio signal in the result of the dubbing editing operation, itis necessary for the user of the dubbing editing system to pay attentionto performing the following action. In registering the editing program,the user has to exclude the area of a recording medium where a video oraudio signal having the reproduction-restricting information addedthereto has been recorded, from a cut scene for editing. Otherwise, ifthe area of a recording medium where a video or audio signal having thereproduction-restricting information added thereto has been recorded hasinadvertently been registered as a cut scene for editing, the user hasto delete a program of the cut scene from the editing program asregistered. Accordingly, the operation of registering an editing programis caused to be extremely troublesome by the presence of thereproduction-restricting information.

[0010] Further, in registering the editing program in the above dubbingediting system, in a case where position information on positions on arecording medium which is being subjected to the editing operation(i.e., time codes recorded together with a video or audio signal if therecording medium is a magnetic tape) is expected to be reproduced alongwith the video or audio signal from the recording medium, the positioninformation reproduced from the recording medium is made to beregistered as an editing start point or an editing end point.

[0011] In the above dubbing editing system, when registering an editingprogram, the user reproduces a video or audio signal recorded on therecording medium and registers the editing program by using the positioninformation reproduced from the recording medium together with the videoor audio signal while reviewing the contents of the reproduced video oraudio signal. However, in a case where, to allow the contents of thevideo or audio signal recorded on the recording medium to be reviewed,the recording medium is subjected to a high-speed searching reproductionin which the transport speed of the recording medium is higher than thatfor a normal reproduction, if the position information to be reproducedfrom the recording medium together with the video or audio signal isreproduced only in an intermittent manner or if the position informationto be reproduced from the recording medium together with the video oraudio signal is caused to drop out by some reason, position informationwhich has not been reproduced from the recording medium is interpolatedby using, for example, the position information as reproducedimmediately before. Therefore, the interpolated position information isnot in proper correspondence to the actual recorded position on therecording medium of the reproduced video or audio signal. For example,if an editing program is registered in accordance with the interpolatedposition information, the editing operation cannot be carried out asdesired, because the editing start point or editing end point asregistered is not correctly in correspondence to the actual recordedposition on the recording medium.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is a general object of the invention to provide anediting-function-integrated reproducing apparatus capable of solving theabove-mentioned problems.

[0013] It is a more specific object of the invention to provide anediting-function-integrated reproducing apparatus capable of allowingthe user to easily register an editing program without paying attentionto excluding, from a cut scene for editing, any area of a recordingmedium where a video or audio signal having reproduction-restrictinginformation added thereto has been recorded, and capable of carrying outa dubbing editing operation such that, even if the dubbing editingoperation is performed according to the registered editing program, noperiod where no video or audio signal is recorded as the result of thedubbing editing operation is formed.

[0014] To attain the above objects, in accordance with an aspect of theinvention, there is provided an editing-function-integrated reproducingapparatus having an editing function of editing a signal recorded on arecording medium by using another apparatus which is remotelycontrollable, which comprises (A) reproducing means for searching for adesired main information signal from the recording medium, reproducingthe searched-for main information signal from the recording medium andoutputting the reproduced main information signal to the otherapparatus, the recording medium having formed therein a main informationsignal recording area in which the main information signal is recordedand a management information signal recording area in which a managementinformation signal related to the main information signal is recorded,the main information signal recorded in the main information signalrecording area including at least one kind of main information signal,and the management information signal recorded in the managementinformation signal recording area including information on restrictionof reproduction of the main information signal recorded in the maininformation signal recording area, and (B) control means for (i)controlling a searching and reproducing operation of the reproducingmeans such that at least one editing program in which one program isformed by designating an editing start point and an editing end point onthe recording medium is registrable and the main information signal andthe management information signal recorded on the recording medium aresearched for and reproduced according to the editing program registered,(ii) controlling an outputting operation of the reproducing means foroutputting the main information signal reproduced from the recordingmedium to the other apparatus according to the information onrestriction of reproduction of the main information signal reproducedfrom the recording medium, and (iii) controlling the other apparatus toperform an editing recording operation according to the registeredediting program and the information on restriction of reproduction ofthe main information signal reproduced from the recording medium.

[0015] It is a further object of the invention to provide anediting-function-integrated reproducing apparatus capable of allowingthe user to, easily without paying attention in registering an editingprogram, register editing points of the editing program in accordancewith position information which has proper correspondence to the actualpositions on a recording medium.

[0016] To attain the above object, in accordance with another aspect ofthe invention, there is provided an editing-function-integratedreproducing apparatus having an editing function of editing a signalrecorded on a recording medium by using another apparatus which isremotely controllable, which comprises (A) reproducing means forsearching for a desired main information signal from the recordingmedium, reproducing the searched-for main information signal from therecording medium and outputting the reproduced main information signalto the other apparatus, the recording medium having formed therein amain information signal recording area in which the main informationsignal is recorded and a management information signal recording area inwhich a management information signal related to the main informationsignal is recorded, the main information signal recorded in the maininformation signal recording area including at least one kind of maininformation signal, and the management information signal recorded inthe management information signal recording area including informationon recording-position of the main information signal recorded in themain information signal recording area, and (B) control means for (i)controlling a searching and reproducing operation of the reproducingmeans such that at least one editing program in which one program isformed by designating an editing start point and an editing end point onthe recording medium is registrable and the main information signal andthe management information signal recorded on the recording medium aresearched for and reproduced according to the editing program registered,(ii) controlling an outputting operation of the reproducing means foroutputting the main information signal reproduced from the recordingmedium to the other apparatus according to the information onrecording-position of the main information signal reproduced from therecording medium, and (iii) controlling the other apparatus to performan editing recording operation according to the registered editingprogram and the information on recording-position of the maininformation signal reproduced from the recording medium, the controlmeans allowing the editing program to be registered according to theinformation on recording-position of the main information signalincluded in the management information signal searched for from therecording medium at a predetermined searching speed.

[0017] These and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing in outline the arrangement of acamera-integrated type video tape recorder (VTR) according to a firstembodiment of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a flow of control operation to beperformed during registration of editing points by a microcomputerincluded in the camera-integrated type VTR shown in FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a flow of control operation to beperformed during execution of an editing operation by the microcomputerincluded in the camera-integrated type VTR shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) show examples of displays made on the pictureplane of an EVF (electronic viewfinder) part of the camera-integratedtype VTR shown in FIG. 1 during registration of editing points andduring execution of an editing operation.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in outline the arrangement of acamera-integrated type VTR according to a second embodiment of theinvention.

[0023]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a flow of control operation to beperformed during registration of editing points by a microcomputerincluded in the camera-integrated type VTR shown in FIG. 5.

[0024] FIGS. 7(a) to 7(d) show examples of displays made on the pictureplane of an EVF (electronic viewfinder) of the camera-integrated typeVTR shown in FIG. 5 during registration of editing points and duringexecution of an editing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing in outline the arrangement of acamera-integrated type video tape recorder (VTR) to which the inventionis applied as a first embodiment thereof.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, an image pickup part 1 includes an imagepickup optical system, an image sensor, an automatic focusing mechanism,a zooming mechanism, a sound-collecting microphone, etc, and is arrangedto adjust focus and light quantity for a shooting object, to convert anoptical image obtained by the image pickup optical system into a videosignal, to convert a sound obtained by the sound-collecting microphoneinto an audio signal, and to send the video signal and the audio signalto a signal processing part 2. The signal processing part 2 is arrangedto process in a predetermined manner the video and audio signalsreceived from the image pickup part 1 and to send the processed signalsto a VTR block 5. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) part 3 is provided witha CRT, liquid crystal display panel or the like for displaying a videoimage and is arranged to show a video image represented by the videosignal processed by the signal processing part 2. The EVF part 3 alsomakes displays of on-screen character-and-image signals includinginformation of varied kinds in characters and symbols related to the VTRbody and a guide display for various setting actions. A system controlpart 4 includes a microcomputer which performs overall control over thevarious functions of the camera-integrated type VTR according to thefirst embodiment of the invention. The system control part 4 is thusarranged to control moving parts disposed within the VTR block 5, todetect position information of a magnetic tape and to control variousactions. The VTR block 5 is composed of a rotary magnetic head, atransport mechanism part for transporting the magnetic tape, a drivingpart arranged to drive the transport mechanism part, and a servomechanism part arranged to servo-control the driving part. The VTR block5 is thus arranged to, in accordance with a control signal from thesystem control part 4, record on the magnetic tape the video signal andthe audio signal processed by the signal processing part 2 or reproducea video signal and an audio signal recorded on the magnetic tape. Anoperation part 6 includes among others, for example, an instructionswitch for starting an editing operation, an instruction switch forstopping the magnetic tape from traveling, a switch for registeringediting points, and an instruction switch for starting a reproducingoperation. An infrared remote-control-signal generating device 7 isarranged to transmit a control signal received from the system controlpart 4, as an infrared remote-control signal for remotely controlling areceiving-side recording apparatus.

[0028]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a flow of control operation to beperformed during registration of editing points by the microcomputer inthe camera-integrated type VTR shown in FIG. 1.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a flow of control operation to beperformed during execution of an editing operation by the microcomputerin the camera-integrated type VTR shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) show examples of displays made on the pictureplane of the EVF part 3 of the camera-integrated type VTR shown in FIG.1 during registration of editing points and during execution of anediting operation.

[0031] In the case of the camera-integrated type VTR according to thefirst embodiment of the invention, the video signal and the audio signalare recorded respectively in the form of digital data. Each of aplurality of recording tracks formed when the surface of the magnetictape is traced by the rotary magnetic head is provided with a videosector in which the video data is recorded and an audio sector in whichthe audio data is recorded. Further, the video sector is provided with aVAUX area for recording auxiliary information data VAUX, which is to berecorded together with the video data. The audio sector is likewiseprovided with an AAUX area for recording auxiliary information dataAAUX, which is to be recorded together with the audio data.

[0032] In the case of the first embodiment, reproduction-restrictinginformation data on restriction of reproduction of video or audio datais made to be set in the VAUX area or the AAUX area. More specifically,the reproduction-restricting information data (SS flag) indicative ofthe restriction of reproduction of the video data is set in the VAUXarea of the video sector. The reproduction-restricting information data(SS flag) indicative of the restriction of reproduction of the audiodata is set in the AAUX area of the audio sector.

[0033] In registering editing points, the camera-integrated type VTRshown in FIG. 1 operates as described below with reference to FIG. 2which shows a control operation in a flow chart.

[0034] When the operation part 6 shown in FIG. 1 is operated by the userto instruct the system control part 4 to start the editing-pointregistering operation, the system control part 4 brings the VTR block 5into a reproduction mode at a step S01. The system control part 4 isthus caused to begin to reproduce data recorded in each track on themagnetic tape. At a step S02, a check is made for detecting whetherreproduction-restricting information included in the data reproducedfrom the magnetic tape, i.e., the reproduction-restricting informationdata (SS flag) indicative of the restriction of reproduction of videodata or the reproduction-restricting information data (SS flag)indicative of the restriction of reproduction of audio data, is valid orinvalid.

[0035] If the reproduction-restricting information included in thereproduced data is found at the step S02 to be invalid, the flow ofoperation proceeds to a step S03. At the step S03, a check is made tofind if a cut-in point has already been registered. If not, the flowproceeds to a step S04 to register the cut-in point. At a step S05, atime code for the registered cut-in point is displayed on the pictureplane of the EVF part 3 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 4(a). At astep S06, a check is made to find if there is a program to be nextregistered. If not, the flow brings the editing-point registeringoperation to an end. If so, the flow returns to the step S02. In a casewhere the cut-in point is found at the step S03 to have already beenregistered, the flow proceeds to a step S07. At the step S07, a cutoutpoint is registered, and the flow proceeds to a step S08. At the stepS08, a program number is updated for a program to be next registered. Ifno program to be next registered is found at the step S06, theediting-point registering operation comes to an end. If there is aprogram to be next registered, the flow returns to the step S02.

[0036] If the reproduction-restricting information as detected is foundat the step S02 to be valid, the flow of operation proceeds from thestep S02 to a step S09. At the step S09, in order to indicate that anarea on the magnetic tape which is about to be registered as an editingpoint is in a state of being inhibited from being registered as theediting point (i.e., an area where a video signal or an audio signalwhich is restrained from reproduction is recorded is about to beregistered as the editing point), a character display related toregistration of the applicable program is made to flicker on the pictureplane of the EVF part 3 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 4(b). Afterthe step S09, if there is no program to be registered next, the flowreturns through the step S06 to the step S02.

[0037] The flow of operation described above enables the user to easilyregister an editing program without paying attention to excluding, froma cut scene for editing, an area on the recording medium where a videosignal or an audio signal having the reproduction-restrictinginformation added thereto is recorded.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 3 which is a flow chart showing a flow ofcontrol actions to be performed by the camera-integrated type VTR shownin FIG. 1 during execution of an editing operation.

[0039] In the case of the camera-integrated type VTR according to thefirst embodiment, a plurality of reproduction-restricting levels are setas the restriction of reproduction of video data or audio data. Forexample, a reproduction-restricting level to be set when both video dataand audio data can be outputted to permit appreciation of images andsounds is referred to as Level 0. A reproduction-restricting level to beset when only one of video data and audio data can be outputted topermit appreciation of only one of images and sounds is referred to asLevel 1. A reproduction-restricting level to be set when neither videodata nor audio data is allowed to be outputted and appreciation ofimages and sounds is inhibited is referred to as Level 2.Reproduction-restricting information data indicative of the applicablereproduction-restricting level is set and recorded in the video area oraudio area of a magnetic tape in recording video data or audio data onthe magnetic tape. Then, at the commencement of execution of an editingoperation on the magnetic tape subjected to the above recording, the VTRis assumed to be set into a state of performing the editing operationaccording to one of the reproduction-restricting levels.

[0040] When the operation part 6 shown in FIG. 1 is operated by theuser, an instruction for starting execution of the editing operation isgiven to the system control part 4. Then, at a step S10 of FIG. 3, thereproduction-restricting level “n” is set. The reproduction-restrictinglevel for execution of the editing operation is displayed in characterson the picture plane of the EVF part 3 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG.4(c) or 4(d). At a step S11, the system control part 4 sets theoperating mode of the VTR block 5 to a reproduction mode in which areproducing action is performed on the magnetic tape. Then, the magnetictape is subjected to a high-speed search reproduction until the firstcut-in point registered in the editing program is found. At the sametime, an infrared remote-control signal is transmitted, as a controlcommand, from the infrared remote-control-signal generating device 7 tothe other VTR which is employed as a receiving-side recording apparatus,to set the receiving-side VTR into a pause state. After that, variouscontrol flags are initialized.

[0041] In this case, the various control flags are assumed to include anediting flag which indicates the operating state of the VTR block 5 ofthe camera-integrated type VTR as the sending-side reproducing apparatus(i.e., whether or not the operating state of the VTR block 5 is areproducing state), and an output flag which indicates the transmissionstate of the infrared remote-control signal from the infraredremote-control-signal generating device 7 to the other VTR as thereceiving-side recording apparatus (i.e., whether the infraredremote-control signal indicative of a control command for setting theother VTR as the receiving-side recording apparatus into a pause stateis being transmitted from the infrared remote-control-signal generatingdevice 7, or whether the infrared remote-control signal indicative of acontrol command for releasing the other VTR from the pause state isbeing transmitted). By the initialization of the various control flagsat the step S11, both the editing flag and the output flag are set to“0”.

[0042] At a step S12 of FIG. 3, a check is made to find if any of timecodes added to the data reproduced from the magnetic tape by thehigh-speed search reproduction coincides with the first cut-in pointregistered in the editing program. If so, the flow of operation proceedsfrom the step S12 to a step S13. At the step S13, the system controlpart 4 changes the operation mode of the VTR block 5 from the high-speedsearch reproduction mode to a normal reproduction mode. Then, datarecorded on the magnetic tape from the first cut-in point registered inthe editing program is reproduced at a normal speed, and the editingflag is set to “1”. The flow then proceeds from the step S13 to a stepS14. If no time code added to the data reproduced from the magnetic tapeby the high-speed search reproduction is found at the step S12 tocoincide with the first cut-in point, the flow proceeds from the stepS12 to the step S14.

[0043] At the step S14 of FIG. 3, a check is made to find if the editingflag is at “0”, which indicates that the VTR block 5 is still in processof the high-speed search reproduction, the flow returns to the step S12.If the editing flag is found at the step S14 to be at “1”, whichindicates that the VTR block 5 is in process of the normal reproduction,the flow proceeds from the step S14 to a step S15 to make a check forthe reproduction-restricting information data included in the datareproduced from the magnetic tape.

[0044] At the step S15 of FIG. 3, the check is made to find if thereproduction-restricting level indicated by the reproduction-restrictinginformation data included in the data reproduced from the magnetic tapeis equal to or less than the reproduction-restricting level “n” set atthe step S10. If not, the check at the step S15 is repeated until eitherthe reproduction-restricting level indicated by thereproduction-restricting information data included in the datareproduced from the magnetic tape becomes equal to or less than thereproduction-restricting level “n” set at the step S10 or thereproduction-restricting information data becomes invalid. The flow thenproceeds from the step S15 to a step S16. At the step S16, an infraredremote-control signal indicative of a control command for cancelling thepause state of the other VTR serving as a receiving-side recordingapparatus is sent from the infrared remote-control-signal generatingdevice 7 to the other VTR. At the same time, the output flag is set to“1”, and then the flow proceeds from the step S16 to a step S17.

[0045] At the step S17 of FIG. 3, a check is made to find if a time codeadded to the data reproduced from the magnetic tape during the normalreproduction coincides with a cut-out point registered in the editingprogram. If not, the flow returns to the step S15. If so, the flowproceeds from the step S17 to a step S18.

[0046] At the step S18 of FIG. 3, the operation mode of the VTR block 5is changed from the normal reproduction mode to the high-speed searchreproduction mode. The data recorded on the magnetic tape is reproducedin the high-speed search reproduction mode up to a point correspondingto the next cut-in point registered in the editing program. At the sametime, an infrared remote-control signal indicative of a control commandfor setting the other VTR serving as the receiving-side recordingapparatus into the pause state is transmitted from the infraredremote-control-signal generating device 7 to the other VTR. Further,both the editing flag and the output flag are set to “0”. Then, theprogram number of the editing program is updated, and the flow proceedsfrom the step S18 to a step S19.

[0047] At the step S19, a check is made to find if there is any programthat is to be next executed. If not, the editing operation comes to anend. If so, the flow returns from the step S19 to the step S12.

[0048] By virtue of the procedures set forth as shown in the flow chartdescribed above, in carrying out the dubbing editing operation accordingto a registered editing program, the operating state of thereceiving-side recording apparatus is changed automatically to anon-recording state if the reproduction-restricting information which isvalid is detected in the signal reproduced from a recording medium. Ifno valid reproduction-restricting information is detected in the signalreproduced, the receiving-side recording apparatus is automatically setin a recording state. Therefore, even if the reproduction-restrictinginformation added to video data or audio data recorded on the recordingmedium is found to be valid, the dubbing editing operation can becarried out in such a way as to adequately exclude any period of havingno image or no sound from the result of the dubbing editing operation.Further, in a case where a plurality of reproduction-restricting levelsare set for reproduction of video or audio signals, the receiving-siderecording apparatus is automatically set into a non-recording state, ifa reproduction-restricting level indicated by reproduction-restrictinginformation added to the signal reproduced from the recording medium isfound to be higher than the reproduction-restricting level set at thecommencement of execution of editing, and the receiving-side recordingapparatus is automatically set into a recording state if thereproduction-restricting level indicated by reproduction-restrictinginformation added to the signal reproduced from the recording mediumlevel is found to be equal to or less than the reproduction-restrictinglevel set at the commencement of execution of editing. The arrangementfor setting a reproduction-restricting level at the commencement ofediting enables the user to selectively obtain one of different resultsof editing as desired.

[0049] The problems of the prior art can be solved by the embodiment ofthe invention, as the embodiment is arranged to enable the user of theVTR to easily register an editing program without paying attention toexcluding, from a cut scene included in the editing program, an areawhere the reproduction-restricting information is added to a videosignal or an audio signal recorded on the recording medium. Further,according to the arrangement of the embodiment, anediting-function-integrated reproducing apparatus can be arranged topermit a dubbing editing operation to be carried out according to aregistered editing program without a fear of forming any period duringwhich a video signal or an audio signal is not recorded.

[0050]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in outline the arrangement of acamera-integrated type VTR according to a second embodiment of theinvention.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 5, an image pickup part 11 includes an imagepickup optical system, an image sensor, an automatic focusing mechanism,a zooming mechanism, a sound-collecting microphone, etc, and is arrangedto adjust focus and light quantity for a shooting object, to convert anoptical image obtained by the image pickup optical system into a videosignal, to convert a sound obtained by the sound-collecting microphoneinto an audio signal, and to send the video signal and the audio signalto a signal processing part 12. The signal processing part 12 isarranged to process in a predetermined manner the video and audiosignals received from the image pickup part 11 and to send the processedsignals to a VTR block 15. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) part 13 isprovided with a CRT, liquid crystal display panel or the like fordisplaying a video image and is arranged to show a video imagerepresented by the video signal processed by the signal processing part12. The EVF part 13 also makes displays of on-screen character-and-imagesignals including information of varied kinds in characters and symbolsrelated to the VTR body and a guide display for various setting actions.A system control part 14 includes a microcomputer which performs overallcontrol over the various functions of the camera-integrated type VTRaccording to the second embodiment of the invention. The system controlpart 14 is thus arranged to control moving parts disposed within the VTRblock 15, to detect position information of a magnetic tape and tocontrol various actions. The VTR block 15 is composed of a rotarymagnetic head, a transport mechanism part for transporting the magnetictape, a driving part arranged to drive the transport mechanism part, anda servo mechanism part arranged to servo-control the driving part. TheVTR block 15 is thus arranged to, in accordance with a control signalfrom the system control part 14, record on the magnetic tape the videosignal and the audio signal processed by the signal processing part 12or reproduce a video signal and an audio signal recorded on the magnetictape. An operation part 16 includes among others, for example, aninstruction switch for starting an editing operation, an instructionswitch for stopping the magnetic tape from traveling, a switch forregistering editing points, an instruction switch for a reproductionmode, an instruction switch for designating a reproduction speed whichis ⅕ of a normal speed, and an instruction switch for designatinganother reproduction speed which is 10 times higher than the normalspeed. An infrared remote-control-signal generating device 17 isarranged to transmit a control signal received from the system controlpart 14, as an infrared remote-control signal for remotely controlling areceiving-side recording apparatus.

[0052]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of a control operation ofthe microcomputer to be performed by the camera-integrated type VTRshown in FIG. 5 during registration of editing points.

[0053] FIGS. 7(a) to 7(d) show examples of displays made on the displaypicture plane of the EVF part 13 of the camera-integrated type VTR shownin FIG. 5 during registration of editing points.

[0054] A magnetic tape to be subjected to a programmed editing operationon the camera-integrated type video tape recorder according to thesecond embodiment of the invention has a plurality of tracks formed bytracing the surface of the magnetic tape with a rotary magnetic head.Each of these tracks includes an area where a video signal and an audiosignal are recorded and another area where a time code is recorded astape position information.

[0055] In the case of the second embodiment, a cut-in editing point (astart point of a part where a necessary video or audio signal isrecorded on the magnetic tape) and a cut-out editing point (an end pointof the part where the necessary video or audio signal is recorded) ofeach of editing programs are registered by using time codes reproducedfrom the magnetic tape.

[0056] In some cases, however, the time codes are not reproduced in anormal manner or not continuously obtained due to a dropout, an externalnoise or the like taking place during the process of the reproductionfrom the magnetic tape. In some other cases, the time codes are obtainedonly in an intermittent manner as some of time codes of each track failto be reproduced when the magnetic tape is transported at a speeddifferent from a normal reproduction speed. Therefore, the microcomputerof the system control part 14 shown in FIG. 5 is arranged to execute, insuch a case, an interpolation process to interpolate any defective timecode that is not normally reproduced, for example, with another timecode normally reproduced immediately before the defective time code. Atime code that is thus interpolated is temporarily held at a memorywithin the microcomputer by adding thereto a flag which indicates thatthe time code is an interpolated time code.

[0057] In registering the editing points, the camera-integrated type VTRshown in FIG. 5 operates as described below.

[0058] When the operation part 16 shown in FIG. 5 is operated toinstruct the system control part 14 to start the editing-pointregistering operation, the system control part 14 sets the VTR block 15into a reproduction mode. A reproducing action then begins to reproducesignals recorded in each track on the magnetic tape.

[0059] With the VTR block 15 set into the reproduction mode by operatingthe reproduction mode instructing switch of the operation part 16, whenthe ⅕-speed reproduction mode instructing switch or the 10-times-highspeed reproduction mode instructing switch or the like of the operationpart 16 is operated, the tape transport speed of the VTR block 15 ischanged from a normal magnetic tape transport speed for reproduction toa different transport speed. Further, when a fast tape-feeding switch ora tape rewinding switch of the operation part 16 is operated, the tapetransport speed of the VTR block 15 also changes from the speed for thenormal reproduction, irrespectively of any operation on the reproductionmode instructing switch of the operation part 16.

[0060] As described above, the system control part 14 detects the timecodes indicative of position information of the magnetic tape, includedin the signal reproduced from the magnetic tape. After that, accordingto the time codes detected, the system control part 14 displaysinformation on the position information of the magnetic tape andregisters editing points of editing programs.

[0061] The operation of the camera-integrated type VTR shown in FIG. 5to be performed during registration of editing points is described belowwith reference to FIG. 6 which is a flow chart showing a flow of controlactions.

[0062] At a step S21 of FIG. 6, a check is made to find if the magnetictape transporting speed of the VTR block 15 is equal to or more than twotimes the tape transport speed for the normal reproduction. If so, theflow of operation proceeds from the step S21 to a step S29. If not, theflow proceeds to a step S22. At the step S22, a check is made to find ifthe time code temporarily held at a memory within the microcomputer ofthe system control part 14 is an interpolated time code or a time codenormally reproduced from the magnetic tape. If the time code is found tobe an interpolated time code, the flow proceeds from the step S22 to thestep S29. If the time code is found to be a normally reproduced timecode, the flow proceeds to a step S23.

[0063] At the step S23 of FIG. 6, a check is made to find if a cut-inediting point has already been registered. If not, the flow proceeds toa step S24 to register the cut-in editing point. At a step S25, a timecode for the registered cut-in editing point is displayed on the pictureplane of the EVF part 13 shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 7(a). Theflow proceeds from the step S25 to a step S26 to make a check to find ifthere is a program to be next registered. If so, the flow returns to thestep S21. If the cut-in editing point is found at the step S23 to havealready been registered, the flow proceeds to a step S27. At the stepS27, a cut-out editing point is registered, and the flow proceeds to astep S28. At the step S28, a program number is updated for a program tobe next registered. If no program to be next registered is found at thestep S26, the editing-point registering operation comes to an end.

[0064] If the magnetic tape transport speed is found at the step S21 tobe equal to or more than two times the normal reproduction speed, or ifthe time code which is temporarily held at the memory within themicrocomputer of the system control part 14 is found at the step S22 tobe an interpolated time code, the flow of operation proceeds from thestep S21 or S22 to the step S29. At the step S29, a character displayrelated to registration of the applicable program is made to flicker onthe picture plane of the EVF part 3 to indicate that a position on themagnetic tape which is currently intended to be registered as an editingpoint is inhibited from being registered as an editing point. In otherwords, a warning is given against registering the interpolated time codeas an editing point. After the step S29, if there is no program to beregistered next, the flow returns to the step S21.

[0065] Then, when the editing start instruction switch of the operationpart 16 shown in FIG. 5 is operated to instruct the system control part14 to begin the execution of an editing operation, the editing operationstarts in accordance with the editing program registered in theabove-stated manner. The VTR block 15 is set into a reproduction modefor a reproducing action on the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape issubjected to a high-speed search reproducing process to be moved up tothe first cut-in editing point registered. Then, an infraredremote-control signal for bringing the receiving-side other VTR into apause state is sent from the infrared remote-control-signal generatingdevice 17 to the other VTR to set the other VTR into the pause state.When a time code reproduced from the magnetic tape by thehigh-speed-search reproduction process comes to coincide with the firstregistered cut-in editing point, the operation mode of the VTR block 15is changed from the high-speed search reproduction mode to the normalreproduction mode. The signal recorded on the magnetic tape isreproduced from the magnetic tape at a normal speed of reproductionbeginning at a part corresponding to the first cut-in editing pointregistered in the editing program. Meanwhile, the infraredremote-control-signal generating device 17 is caused to send, to thereceiving-side other VTR, an infrared remote-control signal indicativeof a control command for releasing the other VTR from the pause state.When a time code reproduced from the magnetic tape by normalreproduction comes to coincide with a cut-out editing point registeredin the editing program, the mode of operation of the VTR block 15 ischanged from the normal reproduction mode to the high-speed searchreproduction mode. Then, the infrared remote-control-signal generatingdevice 17 is caused to send to the receiving-side other VTR an infraredremote-control signal indicative of a control command for bringing theother VTR into the pause state. The magnetic tape is then subjected tothe high-speed search reproduction process to be moved up to a partcorresponding to the next cut-in editing point registered in the editingprogram. The infrared remote-control-signal generating device 17 iscaused to send to the receiving-side other VTR the infraredremote-control signal indicative of a control command for bringing theother VTR into the pause state. After that, the actions mentioned aboveare repeated until all editing programs are finished. The editingoperation comes to an end when there is left no program to be executed.

[0066] As apparent from the description given above, the cut-in andcut-out editing points of each editing program are registered by theuser of the VTR while the user is watching, for confirmation, the videoand audio records reproduced from the magnetic tape. However, if any ofthe time codes to be used for registering the editing points is aninterpolated time point, as mentioned above, a point on the magnetictape represented by the time code used for registration is notadequately in correspondence to an actual point of the magnetic tapewhere the signals corresponding to the images and sounds confirmed bythe user are recorded. In the event of such a time code, therefore, itis hardly possible to carry out the editing operation to obtain anydesired result of editing.

[0067] To solve this problem, the camera-integrated type VTR describedabove according to the second embodiment of the invention is arranged toinhibit registration of any editing point in cases where the magnetictape transport speed is higher than the speed for normal reproduction bytwo times or more than two times and where a time code to be registeredas an editing point is an interpolated time code. In addition to that,in such a case, the VTR is arranged to inform the user of the inhibitedstate with a warning display. The warning is given either by showing theinhibited state on the picture plane of the EVF part 13 shown in FIG. 5or by causing an external video output to output a video signal withcharacters indicating the registration inhibited state superimposed onthe video signal, as shown in FIGS. 7(b) to 7(d). That arrangementenables the user to easily know that the time code in question is in thestate of being inhibited from registration. Therefore, in the event ofany defective time code that is inadequately in correspondence to aposition where a signal corresponding to an image or sound to be editedis actually recorded on the magnetic tape, such a defective time codecan be effectively prevented from being inadvertently registered as anediting point. The arrangement disclosed thus enhances the operabilityof the reproducing apparatus.

[0068] As apparent from the description given above, the problems of theprior art mentioned in the foregoing can be solved by the arrangement ofeach embodiment disclosed. In registering an editing program, thearrangement disclosed enables the user to easily register the editingpoints of the editing program which are well in correspondence to theactual record position on the recording medium. According to theinvention, an editing-function-integrated reproducing apparatus,therefore, can be arranged to permit the user to accurately and easilycarry out the editing operation as desired.

1. An editing-function-integrated reproducing apparatus having anediting function of editing a signal recorded on a recording medium byusing another apparatus which is remotely controllable, said reproducingapparatus comprising: (A) reproducing means for searching for a desiredmain information signal from the recording medium, reproducing thesearched-for main information signal from the recording medium andoutputting the reproduced main information signal to the otherapparatus, the recording medium having formed therein a main informationsignal recording area in which the main information signal is recordedand a management information signal recording area in which a managementinformation signal related to the main information signal is recorded,the main information signal recorded in the main information signalrecording area including at least one kind of main information signal,and the management information signal recorded in the managementinformation signal recording area including information on restrictionof reproduction of the main information signal recorded in the maininformation signal recording area; and (B) control means for (i)controlling a searching and reproducing operation of said reproducingmeans such that at least one editing program in which one program isformed by designating an editing start point and an editing end point onthe recording medium is registrable and the main information signal andthe management information signal recorded on the recording medium aresearched for and reproduced according to the editing program registered,(ii) controlling an outputting operation of said reproducing means foroutputting the main information signal reproduced from the recordingmedium to the other apparatus according to the information onrestriction of reproduction of the main information signal reproducedfrom the recording medium, and (iii) controlling the other apparatus toperform an editing recording operation according to the registeredediting program and the information on restriction of reproduction ofthe main information signal reproduced from the recording medium.
 2. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in registering theediting program, said control means detects whether the information onrestriction of reproduction included in the management informationsignal related to the main information signal of a period from anediting start point to an editing end point designated by the editingprogram to be registered is valid and, if the information on restrictionof reproduction is valid, inhibits the editing program from beingregistered.
 3. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, inregistering the editing program, said control means detects whether theinformation on restriction of reproduction included in the managementinformation signal related to the main information signal of a periodfrom an editing start point to an editing end point designated by theediting program to be registered is valid and, if the information onrestriction of reproduction is valid, warns an operator of saidreproducing apparatus that the editing program is not registrable.
 4. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information onrestriction of reproduction included in the management informationsignal related to the main information signal includes informationindicative of whether the restriction of reproduction of the maininformation signal is valid or invalid.
 5. A reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein, during process of an editing operation,said control means detects whether the information on restriction ofreproduction included in the management information signal related tothe main information signal of a period from an editing start point toan editing end point designated by the registered editing program isvalid, and controls said reproducing means such that, if the informationon restriction of reproduction is valid, the outputting operation ofsaid reproducing means for outputting the main information signalreproduced from the recording medium to the other apparatus is inhibitedand, if the information on restriction of reproduction is invalid, theoutputting operation of said reproducing means for outputting the maininformation signal reproduced from the recording medium to the otherapparatus is allowed.
 6. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 4,wherein, during process of an editing operation, said control meansdetects whether the information on restriction of reproduction includedin the management information signal related to the main informationsignal of a period from an editing start point to an editing end pointdesignated by the registered editing program is valid, and controls theother apparatus such that, if the information on restriction ofreproduction is valid, the editing recording operation of the otherapparatus is inhibited and, if the information on restriction ofreproduction is invalid, the editing recording operation of the otherapparatus is allowed.
 7. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, in a case where a plurality of levels are set for therestriction of reproduction of the main information signal, theinformation on restriction of reproduction included in the managementinformation signal related to the main information signal includesinformation indicative of the level of the restriction of reproductionof the main information signal.
 8. A reproducing apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein, prior to execution of an editing operation, saidcontrol means sets the level of the restriction of reproduction of themain information signal, and, during process of the editing operation,said control means inhibits the outputting operation of said reproducingmeans for outputting the main information signal reproduced from therecording medium to the other apparatus, if the level of the restrictionof reproduction indicated by the information on restriction ofreproduction included in the management information signal related tothe main information signal of a period from an editing start point toan editing end point designated by the registered editing program ishigher than the set level of the restriction of reproduction, and allowsthe outputting operation of said reproducing means for outputting themain information signal reproduced from the recording medium to theother apparatus, if the level of the restriction of reproductionindicated by the information on restriction of reproduction included inthe management information signal related to the main information signalof a period from an editing start point to an editing end pointdesignated by the registered editing program is equal to or lower thanthe set level of the restriction of reproduction.
 9. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein, prior to execution of anediting operation, said control means sets the level of the restrictionof reproduction of the main information signal, and, during process ofthe editing operation, said control means inhibits the editing recordingoperation of the other apparatus, if the level of the restriction ofreproduction indicated by the information on restriction of reproductionincluded in the management information signal related to the maininformation signal of a period from an editing start point to an editingend point designated by the registered editing program is higher thanthe set level of the restriction of reproduction, and allows the editingrecording operation of the other apparatus, if the level of therestriction of reproduction indicated by the information on restrictionof reproduction included in the management information signal related tothe main information signal of a period from an editing start point toan editing end point designated by the registered editing program isequal to or lower than the set level of the restriction of reproduction.10. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisingremote-control means for selecting, from among a plurality of kinds ofremote-control codes corresponding respectively to a plurality of kindsof other apparatuses which are remotely controllable, a remote-controlcode corresponding to the other apparatus actually used for an editingoperation, and for transmitting to the actually-used other apparatus aremote control signal according to the selected remote-control code toremotely control an editing recording operation of the actually-usedother apparatus.
 11. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 10,wherein said remote-control means uses infrared light for carrying theremote-control signal to be transmitted to the actually-used otherapparatus.
 12. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein therecording medium includes a tape-shaped recording medium.
 13. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording mediumincludes a disk-shaped recording medium.
 14. Anediting-function-integrated reproducing apparatus having an editingfunction of editing a signal recorded on a recording medium by usinganother apparatus which is remotely controllable, said reproducingapparatus comprising: (A) reproducing means for searching for a desiredmain information signal from the recording medium, reproducing thesearched-for main information signal from the recording medium andoutputting the reproduced main information signal to the otherapparatus, the recording medium having formed therein a main informationsignal recording area in which the main information signal is recordedand a management information signal recording area in which a managementinformation signal related to the main information signal is recorded,the main information signal recorded in the main information signalrecording area including at least one kind of main information signal,and the management information signal recorded in the managementinformation signal recording area including information onrecording-position of the main information signal recorded in the maininformation signal recording area; and (B) control means for (i)controlling a searching and reproducing operation of said reproducingmeans such that at least one editing program in which one program isformed by designating an editing start point and an editing end point onthe recording medium is registrable and the main information signal andthe management information signal recorded on the recording medium aresearched for and reproduced according to the editing program registered,(ii) controlling an outputting operation of said reproducing means foroutputting the main information signal reproduced from the recordingmedium to the other apparatus according to the information onrecording-position of the main information signal reproduced from therecording medium, and (iii) controlling the other apparatus to performan editing recording operation according to the registered editingprogram and the information on recording-position of the maininformation signal reproduced from the recording medium, said controlmeans allowing the editing program to be registered according to theinformation on recording-position of the main information signalincluded in the management information signal searched for from therecording medium at a predetermined searching speed.
 15. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined searchingspeed is a speed at which the recording medium is searched during normalreproduction, and, in registering the editing program, said controlmeans detects whether the recording medium is being searched at a speedhigher than the searching speed during normal reproduction, and, if therecording medium is being searched at a speed higher than the searchingspeed during normal reproduction, inhibits the editing program frombeing registered.
 16. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 14,wherein the predetermined searching speed is a speed at which therecording medium is searched during normal reproduction, and, inregistering the editing program, said control means detects whether therecording medium is being searched at a speed higher than the searchingspeed during normal reproduction, and, if the recording medium is beingsearched at a speed higher than the searching speed during normalreproduction, warns an operator of said reproducing apparatus that theediting program is inhibited from being registered.
 17. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 14, wherein, in registering the editingprogram, said control means detects whether the information onrecording-position of the main information signal to be registered asediting points of the editing program is information obtained byinterpolation, and, if the information on recording-position of the maininformation signal to be registered as editing points of the editingprogram is information obtained by interpolation, inhibits the editingprogram from being registered.
 18. A reproducing apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein, in registering the editing program, said controlmeans detects whether the information on recording-position of the maininformation signal to be registered as editing points of the editingprogram is information obtained by interpolation, and, if theinformation on recording-position of the main information signal to beregistered as editing points of the editing program is informationobtained by interpolation, warns an operator of said reproducingapparatus that the editing program is inhibited from being registered.19. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprisingremote-control means for selecting, from among a plurality of kinds ofremote-control codes corresponding respectively to a plurality of kindsof other apparatuses which are remotely controllable, a remote-controlcode corresponding to the other apparatus actually used for an editingoperation, and for transmitting to the actually-used other apparatus aremote control signal according to the selected remote-control code toremotely control an editing recording operation of the actually-usedother apparatus.
 20. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 19,wherein said remote-control means uses infrared light for carrying theremote-control signal to be transmitted to the actually-used otherapparatus.
 21. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, whereinthe recording medium includes a tape-shaped recording medium.
 22. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recordingmedium includes a disk-shaped recording medium.
 23. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 14, wherein, in a case where a plurality oflevels are set for the restriction of reproduction of the maininformation signal, the information on restriction of reproductionincluded in the management information signal related to the maininformation signal includes information indicative of the level of therestriction of reproduction of the main information signal.
 24. Anediting-function-integrated reproducing apparatus having a function ofediting and outputting a signal recorded on a recording medium, saidreproducing apparatus comprising: (A) reproducing means for searchingfor a desired main information signal from the recording medium,reproducing the searched-for main information signal from the recordingmedium and outputting the reproduced main information signal, therecording medium having formed therein a main information signalrecording area in which the main information signal is recorded and amanagement information signal recording area in which a managementinformation signal related to the main information signal is recorded,the main information signal recorded in the main information signalrecording area including at least one kind of main information signal,and the management information signal recorded in the managementinformation signal recording area including information on restrictionof reproduction of the main information signal recorded in the maininformation signal recording area; and (B) control means for (i)controlling a searching and reproducing operation of said reproducingmeans such that at least one editing program in which one program isformed by designating an editing start point and an editing end point onthe recording medium is registrable and the main information signal andthe management information signal recorded on the recording medium aresearched for and reproduced according to the editing program registered,and (ii) controlling an outputting operation of said reproducing meansfor outputting the main information signal reproduced from the recordingmedium according to the information on restriction of reproduction ofthe main information signal reproduced from the recording medium.
 25. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, in registering theediting program, said control means detects whether the information onrestriction of reproduction included in the management informationsignal related to the main information signal of a period from anediting start point to an editing end point designated by the editingprogram to be registered is valid and, if the information on restrictionof reproduction is valid, inhibits the editing program from beingregistered.
 26. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein,in registering the editing program, said control means detects whetherthe information on restriction of reproduction included in themanagement information signal related to the main information signal ofa period from an editing start point to an editing end point designatedby the editing program to be registered is valid and, if the informationon restriction of reproduction is valid, warns an operator of saidreproducing apparatus that the editing program is not registrable.
 27. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the information onrestriction of reproduction included in the management informationsignal related to the main information signal includes informationindicative of whether the restriction of reproduction of the maininformation signal is valid or invalid.
 28. A reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 27, wherein, during process of an editing operation,said control means detects whether the information on restriction ofreproduction included in the management information signal related tothe main information signal of a period from an editing start point toan editing end point designated by the registered editing program isvalid, and controls said reproducing means such that, if the informationon restriction of reproduction is valid, the outputting operation ofsaid reproducing means for outputting the main information signalreproduced from the recording medium is inhibited and, if theinformation on restriction of reproduction is invalid, the outputtingoperation of said reproducing means for outputting the main informationsignal reproduced from the recording medium is allowed.
 29. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, in a case where aplurality of levels are set for the restriction of reproduction of themain information signal, the information on restriction of reproductionincluded in the management information signal related to the maininformation signal includes information indicative of the level of therestriction of reproduction of the main information signal.
 30. Areproducing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein, prior to executionof an editing operation, said control means sets the level of therestriction of reproduction of the main information signal, and, duringprocess of the editing operation, said control means inhibits theoutputting operation of said reproducing means for outputting the maininformation signal reproduced from the recording medium, if the level ofthe restriction of reproduction indicated by the information onrestriction of reproduction included in the management informationsignal related to the main information signal of a period from anediting start point to an editing end point designated by the registeredediting program is higher than the set level of the restriction ofreproduction, and allows the outputting operation of said reproducingmeans for outputting the main information signal reproduced from therecording medium, if the level of the restriction of reproductionindicated by the information on restriction of reproduction included inthe management information signal related to the main information signalof a period from an editing start point to an editing end pointdesignated by the registered editing program is equal to or lower thanthe set level of the restriction of reproduction.
 31. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 24, wherein the recording medium includes atape-shaped recording medium.
 32. A reproducing apparatus according toclaim 24, wherein the recording medium includes a disk-shaped recordingmedium.
 33. An editing-function-integrated reproducing apparatus havinga function of outputting a signal recorded on a recording medium, saidreproducing apparatus comprising: (A) reproducing means for searchingfor a desired main information signal from the recording medium,reproducing the searched-for main information signal from the recordingmedium and outputting the reproduced main information signal, therecording medium having formed therein a main information signalrecording area in which the main information signal is recorded and amanagement information signal recording area in which a managementinformation signal related to the main information signal is recorded,the main information signal recorded in the main information signalrecording area including at least one kind of main information signal,and the management information signal recorded in the managementinformation signal recording area including information onrecording-position of the main information signal recorded in the maininformation signal recording area; and (B) control means for (i)controlling a searching and reproducing operation of said reproducingmeans such that at least one editing program in which one program isformed by designating an editing start point and an editing end point onthe recording medium is registrable and the main information signal andthe management information signal recorded on the recording medium aresearched for and reproduced according to the editing program registered,and (ii) controlling an outputting operation of said reproducing meansfor outputting the main information signal reproduced from the recordingmedium according to the information on recording-position of the maininformation signal reproduced from the recording medium, said controlmeans allowing the editing program to be registered according to theinformation on recording-position of the main information signalincluded in the management information signal searched for from therecording medium at a predetermined searching speed.
 34. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 33, wherein the predetermined searchingspeed is a speed at which the recording medium is searched during normalreproduction, and, in registering the editing program, said controlmeans detects whether the recording medium is being searched at a speedhigher than the searching speed during normal reproduction, and, if therecording medium is being searched at a speed higher than the searchingspeed during normal reproduction, inhibits the editing program frombeing registered.
 35. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 33,wherein the predetermined searching speed is a speed at which therecording medium is searched during normal reproduction, and, inregistering the editing program, said control means detects whether therecording medium is being searched at a speed higher than the searchingspeed during normal reproduction, and, if the recording medium is beingsearched at a speed higher than the searching speed during normalreproduction, warns an operator of said reproducing apparatus that theediting program is inhibited from being registered.
 36. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 33, wherein, in registering the editingprogram, said control means detects whether the information onrecording-position of the main information signal to be registered asediting points of the editing program is information obtained byinterpolation, and, if the information on recording-position of the maininformation signal to be registered as editing points of the editingprogram is information obtained by interpolation, inhibits the editingprogram from being registered.
 37. A reproducing apparatus according toclaim 33, wherein, in registering the editing program, said controlmeans detects whether the information on recording-position of the maininformation signal to be registered as editing points of the editingprogram is information obtained by interpolation, and, if theinformation on recording-position of the main information signal to beregistered as editing points of the editing program is informationobtained by interpolation, warns an operator of said reproducingapparatus that the editing program is inhibited from being registered.38. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the recordingmedium includes a tape-shaped recording medium.
 39. A reproducingapparatus according to claim 33, wherein the recording medium includes adisk-shaped recording medium.
 40. A reproducing apparatus according toclaim 33, wherein, in a case where a plurality of levels are set for therestriction of reproduction of the main information signal, theinformation on restriction of reproduction included in the managementinformation signal related to the main information signal includesinformation indicative of the level of the restriction of reproductionof the main information signal.